That said, there are also some bright spots in the recovery efforts over
the past six months. I returned from my third trip since the earthquake
in June and saw heroic efforts by the Haitian people in clearing the
rubble of large cement buildings using nothing but pickaxes and shovels.
I saw women working to build up small businesses so they could feed
their families and many small aid groups such as Amurtel working closely
with the people in the camps to create positive change and pave the way
for the future. Children are back in schools, albeit those schools are
under tarps with few materials. The vibrant energy of Port au Prince is
back in many areas, with vendors on the streets selling their wares,
traffic clogging the roads and people bustling about as they work to
rebuild their country. Although the magnitude of the work that needs to
be done might be paralyzing to many, for the Haitian people it is just
one more challenge they are committed to overcoming.
WORKING IN THE CAMPS
Amurtel is the UN-designated camp manager for nine camps, and we partner
with larger groups to find supplies and food for the 10,000 or so
displaced persons in our camps. We have found that a successful formula
is to work with our Haitian community organizers, or Animators' as they
are called in Creyole, who are continually meeting with the camp leaders
to find out what the needs are and ensure any supplies we get are
distributed to those families most in need. We have continued our work
with the women in the camps, offering trainings, which is the beginning
of the process to qualifying for micro finance credit. In one camp, we
have provided large water tanks and arranged to have them filled. The
women have created a cooperative where they sell the water for a nominal
fee and, with the funds collected, are setting up their own "bank" to
fund other women in the camp in starting small businesses.
CHILDREN
We are working with close to 5,000 children in our Child Friendly
Spaces, offering a safe, nurturing and healing environment for children 3
to 12 years old. They come to the centers for two to three hours a day,
engaging in music, art, drama and games as they continue the long road
to normalcy and health. In some of the CFS, we are able to offer a hot
meal to each child and nutritional bars to take home to their families.
A big concern is the increasing signs of malnutrition in the children in
the camps. These kids are the future of Haiti and are still struggling
day to day with hunger, trauma, illness and displacement. All official
food distribution programs were ended awhile ago, yet there is still
little food available for hundreds of thousands of people. Amurtel is
now in the process of setting up a supplemental feeding program for
these children, hiring local women in the camps to cook one hot meal a
day, with food we are providing.
MEDICAL
In the past month we have reinstituted our mobile medical camps, holding
two a week at our center in Bourdon and taking the medical staff and
medicines to a different camp twice a week. This is critical as many of
the people are suffering from serious medical conditions that, left
untreated, will leave them incapacitated. Diabetes, asthma, heart
disease, worms, TB, and some malaria and dengue fever are some of the
illnesses our doctors are seeing on a daily basis.
It was wonderful to see baby Malika and the other children at our
children's home. They have all settled down now as the aftershocks are
less frequent and there is more stability in their lives. Malika has
begun to walk and is always smiling. We are up to 14 children now and
plans are underway to build a home for them outside the city, where they
will be able to play outside and have a healthier environment.
SUPPLIES
Great news we have been waiting for since February: The shipment that
was sent from The Valley and other towns along the East Coast with
tents, tarps, shoes, art supplies, etc. finally arrived in Port au
Prince! It was a day of celebration after three months of haranguing
with customs, border agents, etc. The tents and tarps were immediately
distributed and the other supplies are being distributed by our
Animators in consultation with the camp leaders.
LOCAL HAPPENINGS
Amurtel was chosen as the nonprofit to sell tickets for the Grace Potter
and the Nocturnals concert on August 14 at the Burlington Waterfront.
Half of the ticket price will be donated to Amurtel to be used for
ongoing Haiti relief. If you or anyone you know is thinking of going to
the concert, please buy your tickets from Amurtel. We will be offering
them at the Farmers' Market on some Saturdays and at the Lee-Parrish
Gallery during the week. Or you can email me at
Amurtel's philosophy is to empower the people we work with to create
their own future rather than become dependent on outside aid. And this
is what we find the people themselves want. It struck me that in all my
time in the camps, talking with so many of those living there, not one
person asked me for money or a handout. Yet many asked me to help them
get a job.
I am excited about the programs we are engaged in and the amazing people
we are working with. It may take a lot longer before conditions
improve, but I have no doubt they will get better. The spirit of the
Haitian people will accept no other outcome.
You can email me at
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